My Department has no record of a recent application for disability benefit from the person concerned.
In the context of preparation of the spending Estimates for 2004, entitlement to the concurrent payment of a number of benefits, including the payment of disability benefit concurrently with widow or widower's pensions, was discontinued for new claimants with effect from 19 January. Existing recipients were not affected by the measure for the duration of their claim.
As the person concerned is in receipt of a widow's contributory pension at the maximum rate she is no longer entitled to claim disability benefit concurrently. The measure was introduced in response to the pressure on Government spending and to provide scope for other improvements in social welfare provision in the budget. The operation of this and other measures will be kept under review and any necessary adjustments will be made in the light of this.
In the event of the person concerned becoming unfit for work in the future she should submit medical certificates to my Department. She will then be awarded credited contributions during the period.